Cool MateBring it down vs Decrease
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Bring it down
Top 2,000 (common)
Decrease
Top 2,000 (common)B2verb
| Bring it down | Decrease | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //brɪŋ ɪt daʊn//🇺🇸 //brɪŋ ɪt daʊn// | 🇬🇧 //dɪˈkriːs//🇺🇸 //dɪˈkriːs// |
| Meaning | To lower something, usually in volume or intensity. | To make something smaller or lower. |
| Example | Could you bring it down a little? It's too loud. | The government plans to decrease taxes next year. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | - | B2 |
| Part of speech | verb | |
| Collocations | bring it down a notch, bring the volume down, bring it down to earth | decrease in size, decrease in temperature, significantly decrease, gradually decrease, decrease the risk |
| Antonyms | - | increase, rise, augment |
| Common mistakes | Using 'bring down' without 'it' in informal contexts., Confusing with 'take down' which often refers to removing something rather than lowering it., Forgetting to specify what to bring down. | Confusing 'decrease' with 'increase'., Using 'decrease' without an object, e.g. 'decrease' must have something to decrease., Incorrectly conjugating the verb in different tenses. |
| Usage notes | Use 'bring it down' when referring to lowering volume or intensity. Usually informal but appropriate in most contexts. Avoid in very formal writing. | Use 'decrease' in formal and neutral contexts to describe reductions, such as in appetite or temperature. |
See it in real clips
Frequently asked questions: Bring it down vs Decrease
What's the difference between Bring it down and Decrease?
Bring it down: To lower something, usually in volume or intensity. Decrease: To make something smaller or lower.
Can you show an example of each?
Bring it down: Could you bring it down a little? It's too loud. Decrease: The government plans to decrease taxes next year.
Can I use Bring it down and Decrease interchangeably?
Not always. Bring it down and Decrease are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.